Railway-switch.



' Fs M.I FREBBRGQ RAILWAY Sw|TCH. .wrm/mou manna. 24. la: 1.

` man@ 19. 1915i I n' l F. M.- FREEBURG.

RAILWAY SWITCH, A PmfcATxoN 4mm un. 24. |911'.

1,259,506. Patents@ Mar.19,191& l

1 SHEETS-.suur a.

F. M. 'FREE-BURG:

RAILWAY SWITCH. sPLiCmoN men mm2-e. i911.

l1,259,506. imma my. 19, um f v4, SHEETS--SHEET 4.

Elven/tor;

FRANK M. FREEBURG, F PHILADELPHIA, lPENNSYLVILN IA.

RAILWAY-SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 19, 191s.

Application led March 24, 1917. Serial No. 157,186.

To all 'whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, FRANK M. FREEBURG, .ft citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia., in the county of Philadelphie und State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in i verse sections of the svvi-tch'structure -on' lines4 44%; 5l- 5, 6,) 7/-175 8 -'f8,1 914-9,"

y described 'and claimed.

Railway-Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements 1n railway switches wherein are employed e mein rail, a branch rail leading therefrom und verticellyustable switch rails adapt-.

ed, 'when so adjusted to diierent'positions, to control the direction of travel of vcer Wheels relatively to the main and branch rails. I

The object of my invention is to provide-a novel switch of thischaracte'r. which will peri'nit either switch* rail to yield downwerdlyunder the pressure of Wheel flanges when/the railis up in the 'path ofthe Wheel iianges end in position to govern 'the course of the wheels while passing in one direction and the wheels pass the'switch rail in' the' reverse direction. A fnrther' object "of myl invention is to provide 'a noveL'simple and eiiicie'nt n ieans .for ed]us t1ng the s wltch relis' to ldifferent positions.

l/Vith these and other 'objects invention consists in' the novel construction 'and combinations of parts hereinafter v fully In the accompanying drawingsillnstreting my invention, I

Fig. Zis 'a side' elevftion thereoff-partly Y andthe tongue22is down, the fece 23 will `direet"'wheelflanges 'from the mein track y lofi@ 'and 111911,' -yrespectivelygef Fig- -1.

switch 'nerfs m e -dierent position:

Fi si 1 4 and 15 are sections on line 14e-14g o.fF-ig.x12,' Fig. v14 showing the switch showing the switch. position.

Fig. 16 is detail sliowing'vfaJ portion-of Vgrooves -16 and 17 is the usual guard perf respective ends of the treedportioh or mein 'be raised and lowered into and from the paths of the car Wheel flanges.

Paget, 5, 6, 7', e, 91-10- midjn Meerane-- -The tonguev 22. has e vertical face 24 one of the switch tongues and its raising and loweringgv',l cam.

Referring tothe drawings, 15 designates the frame of the switch struc-ture having the main track groove 16 and the branch track groove 17 formed therein, the grooves 1G and .17 being adapted to receive the car Wheel flanges in thekusunl manner, thebranch track groove 17 communicating with the main-track groove 16, as shown. On the outside of the grooves 16 and 17 are the treed portions 18 and 19, forming sections of the main andbranch reils2 respectively, of Ithe switch, and onthe 'lnsideof "the tion 20. One end of the tread portion or branch rail 19 forms the frog point and the other end thereof is adapted to be connected to additional branch 'rnil sections gf andthe 5 rail, 18 are ndepted to be connected to addiv'tional main rai-1 sections, in the usual vWell lknown manner. Within the grooves 16 and 17 aretwo tongues 21 ,and 22, Irespectivel havingrounded end prtions 23il fitted to turn in sockets 24? in the frame 15 in e manner to. permit-the lpointed ends of the tongues to The tongue 21 has e vert-ical face 2 3 which,l

when the tongue, is raised, connects the side thepoint portion'of the branch 'mii 19, forming one wall ofthe branch track groove 17 with theside of the-trend portion o r main rail-1 8 forming one wall of the mein track groovelfso that when the tongue 21 is up wlch,` when' thetongues raised, forms a'.

continuation ofthe side of the point portion v19j whichlfor'ms one well ofthe 1n'ain. track groove' 16 Send 'prevents vwheel engesf from entering the branch track' -groove' 1 -7, vv vhen-the-*cer wheels pass directly along the' tions 1 8 and 191 .so thetcerwheels willinot beer -`upon the tongue21. when it is"re sed,'"" the wheels beingsupported by 'both tred= i portions l8`end^19 Ain passing over the main track groove 16 to and from the branch-110 track. The pivoted ends of the tongues v21 and 22 are always below the paths of the wheel fianges, the upper face of each tongue being inclined upwardly from its pivoted end when it is in the raised position.

The switch tongues 21 and 22 are fitted to slide vertically between walls of the frame 15, and when each tongue is down its upper face forms a continuation of thefloor portions-.of the grooves beyond the ends of the tongue. The tongues 21 and 22 are adapted to abut against and engage each-other between the point ends thereof andthe point end ofthe tread portion 19, the upper portionsof the tongues 21 and 22'being out away to forni portions of the faces 23 and 24, respectively, and thereby form the pointed ends of the switch rails, as shown. The tongue 21 has a shoulder 25 providing an oiiset for the reception of the compara ,tively blunt, pointed endl of thetread por tion or frog point 19. The shoulder 25 thus serves to prevent wheel iianges from striking` the point of the tread portion 19 when the tongue 21 is raised to direct the Wheels 'from the main track 18 to the branch track 19.

In operating the switch, the tongues.- 21 ,and are raised and lowered in alternate succession, and when the tongue 22 is raised an vuninterrupted main track groove 16 is presented, and when the tongue 21 is raised an uninterrupted branch track groove 17 is presented, and to thus raise and lower the tongues 21 and 22 I provide the-following `mechanism: p

The'toi'igues 2l and 22, near their point vlends, arel provided with portions 2G and 27 which extend downwardlyl luto a boX-like portion 28 of the switch iralncfl. These 'portions 2G and 27 vhave openiugs29 and 30. respectively, -therein; and, extending ihronglrthese openings 29 and 30 is a transverse shaft 231. The outer end' of the shaft 31 is fitted to turn in ,'a. bearing 'which ,extends into a vertical guide slot 32% in a wall 34 oluthe box-like portion 28. The inner portion ol' the shaft 31 has :rcollaihv 'he shaft longiid, Le. The hoartherelnf holding the shaft 3l normally in the horizontal posit'ion'shown in Fig. 12.

The spring 38, rests upon ,a screw plug 40 screwed into Athe bottom bf the switch 4strnct-ure, and the upper end ofthe spring bears directly against the bearing `32,. The

. lower the switch tongues 21 and lcally therein and',

spring 39 'rests upon a screw plug 41 screwed into the bottom of the switch structure, and the upper end of the spring 39 bears against a block 42 which is slidable Within the slot 36 and bears against the bottoniA of the collar' therein.

From the construction just described, it will be understood that the shaft 31 may be vdepressed from the position shown in Fig.

12 against the action of the springs 38 and 39.

The inner end of the shaft 3l is provided with an upwardly-projacting, heavy arm 43 which is' adapted to he moved from the po sition shown in Fig. 14 to the position shown in F ig. 15 and back again to turn the shaft 31 a quarter revolution from the position shown in Fig. 1 4 to the position shown in Fig. 15 and back again, for a purpose hereinafter described.

The shaft 31 is provided with cams 44 and 45 which are arranged within the openings 29 andvSO of the switch tongues 21 and 22, respectively. These eains 44 and 45 are adapted t'o be moved back and forth from vertical to horizontal positions when the shaft 3] is turned a. quarter revolution, first in one direction and then in the reverse' direction, by operating the arm 43, as previously described. lVhen one cam is moved from the horizontal to the vertical position, the other cam is moved from the vertical to the horizontal position; and when one cam is moved from the. vertical to the horizontal position, the other cam is moved' from the horizontal to the vertical position, when the arm 43 is operated.

When the cam 44 is moved to the vertical position it-raises the switch tongue 2L, and when. the cam 44 is moved to the horizontal position it lowers the switch tongue 21. When the cam 45 is moved to the vertical position-it .raises the .switch tongue 2,2, and when the camv 45 is moved to the horizontal position it lowers the switch tongue '221iv lVhen the' cams 4|- and 4:7 are moved to 22. respectively, the cams 44 and 45 enter sockets 46 and 47forined by the openings 129 andgBO, respectively, land when the cams 44 and 45 are moved to raise the switch tongues 21 and 22, respectively, the. cams 44 and 45.

enter sockets 48 and 49 formed by the pene switch tongue 22 will be raised, and that when the arm 43 ismoved from the position shownv in Fig. to the position shown in Fig. 14 the switch tongue 22 will be lowered and the switch tongue 21 will be raised.

The shaft 31 is not only/ held in the twol positions to which it is moved, as just dey scribed, by the engagement of the cams 44 and 45 vwith the `walls of the openings 29 and 80, respectively, but it is also held in such positions by the Weight of the arm 43 which passes the Avertical center each time it isoperated to turn the revolution.

To move the arm 43 'to turn'the shaft 31, as previously described, -I- provide the following: Pivoted at in the switch strucfture is an arm 51 provided with a pin 52- which projectsinto a radial slot 53 in the arm 43. This arm 51 is provided with an opening or socket 54 which is adapted to re- .ceive an operating bar 55, as shown in thev drawings, whereby the arm 51 may be moved from the position shown in Fig. 14 to the vso Set with theboue-z along the mai .00-

positionl shown in Fig. 15'and back again.

When the arm 51 is thus moved fromithey 'position shown in Fig. 14 to the posltion 'shown in Figul, the pin 52 will engage the wall'V of the slot531and move the arm 43 from the l position shown in Fig. 14 to the 4position' shown in Fig. 15; and when the armi 51 is moved from the position shown -in Fig. 15 to the position shown in' Fig. 14,

the-p1n-52 vwillv 'ngage the wall of the slot 5.3,a'nd move the arm43 from the position shown in Fig. I1.5 tothe position shown in Fig..'14. The pin'and slot connection between the' arms. g43 and 51 permits the shaft' 31 to be.. depressed against the action of the springs 38 and '39.

The arm 43 Y is' provided Awith. a'spring' 56, one end of which-' i'svconnected theretoand the ,otherv end offwhich' is 'connected to" ar rin'57,-'.Piw..ti-1,18'wir the: Switch frame..1.5,

which exerts 'aI-.pull upon vthe 43 andyl prevents' t' 'from resting 'The springs asfixia'. 9;- oia fh' and .whenftheA shaftis .th-ns held in thlsi p;

Siem .a wiuebelrenilyf ,meer-Steed trashy.

the-ba shaft 31a quarter fin; 'a 1 position "lat 31. f. The 'weight' ernesthe action' assdthedead v`center in movi gl-to'eithr-of itspositi'onvs Biafra; normallyin' the'j'po'siti n-jshown'in Fi .if-12,

:will afs o 'the main 'and branch 'inthe raised osit'ion i and gfwheel; thej'bra'no track..I

to v the triuilgwlS, theI wheelfiange willv act upon the top of the switch tongue 22 and thereby depress it and the shaft 31 against the action of the springs 38 and 39, as shown in F ig. 13, and thus permit the easy passage of the wheel over the switch tongue 22,. notwithstanding its raised position to control the direction of the movement of car wheels in the reverse direction;

and when the switch tongues 21 and 22 are set with the tongue 21 in 'the raised position and a wheel passes along` the main track 18 in the direction of the arrow A., the wheel 'ange will act upon the top of the switch tongue .21 and thereby depress it and the shaft 31 against the. action cf the springs 38 and .39 and thus permit the easy passage of the wheel over the switch tongue 2 1, notwithstanding its raised position to control the direction of the movement of car wheels in the reverse direction.

I claim:

1. In a railway switch, the combination of a main rail, a branch rail leading therefrom;` a vertically-movable switch tongue adapted to control the passage' of oar Wheels relatively to the main rail and the branch rail, means operativev to raise and lower the switch tongue into and from the path of wheelvflanges adjacent to said rails, and yielding means supporting the switch tongue and permitting it to be depressed against the' action thereof.

2. In 'a railway switch, the combination of a main rail, a branch rail lsading'therefrom, a- Verticaiiy-mo'vable switch tongue adapted to control the passage of car wheels .relatively to the main raii and the branch rail, means operative to raise and lower. the

switch tongue into and from the path of wheel ian'ges adjacent to said rails', and yielding'meanssupporting the last named means and the switch tongue and permitthereoii ting'thexn tobe depressed against the action' 3110 fof' amain' rail, a-branchai leading'there".= ..from,.a vertically-movable 'switch 'tongue'. adapted to v contfrolfl the. passage of.' 'oar' .whee ls relativel tothe' mai-n rail andthe b raifichl -tft extending-.beneath thef'switelil 1.154

tongue Ineans. "carried".byll the'shaft .and

opera-t fu-'. ing means "forsaidjbearing and yie ding of: al main rail., a branch. rai-l. leading there#l :aref-raise and, lower the 's'witclfi"- tongueV when? the shaft is i-turn e ,d.,. a vertif vl'callymovable bearing for' said shaft,

I'the 130 'sli-aft, and a cani carried by the shaft and adapted to work within said opening and to engage the top of the/opening te raise the switcli'tongue and to engage the vbottoni of the openin to lower the switch tongue when said sha t is turned.

5. In a railway switch, the combination of a main rail, a branch rail leading there from, a 4vertically-inovable switch tongue adopted to control the passage of car wheels relatively to the inain rail and tliebranchv rail, said switch tongue having a socket formed therein, a shaft, supporting means for the shaft, and a cani carried by said ,shaft und adapted to support and control the raising and lowering of the switch tongue 'when the shaft is turned, said cam being ziflapted to enter the socket in the Suite-h. fougue when. raiseda end, thereafter preventing the turning of the cani and its switch tongue. Y,

In a. railway ewitclnthe combination shaft b,..downiirartl Wpressure against. the` of a main rail, a branch rail leading'there-iv from, a vertically movable switch tongue adapted to control the passage of oai' WheelsA relatively to` the main rail and vthe branch rail, said switch tongue having :it-socketf formed therein, si shaft, supporting means'I for' the shaft` vand a C :lni carried by said,

shaft and adapted to Support'and control the raising 'and lowering of the switch tonguewhen the shaft is turned, said cani being adapted yto enter the socket in the".

switch tongue wlieniaised and thereafter preventing the turningv of the4 caniA and o its shaft by downward pressure .against the.

switch tongue, and one part of the structure being` yieldable `and Ypermitting the switch tongue tobc ,depressefl against the` actionl thereof. I Y l i Ina railway switch, l thel combination rif-:al meinY rail, a branch rail lending tliere--lr from.I a vertically movable switch tongue a lapteiln tolpontrol the passage of car, lwheels relatively to the main rail and the branch` ijn-il, "sirl switch tongue having a socket? ffii-ined therein, a shalt, and a cam. carried by siidlshlft and adopted to support and control `the raising Aend loweringl of the Switch tonguewlien the shaft is turned1 said cam being adapted to, enter the socket in the switch tongue when raised4J vand thereafter preventing thetnrning of theoam'and its shaft by fdownwarrl pressure against the. switch tongue, 'and yielding means support: ing'the shaftand permitting tl'ie switch tongue to loe depressed against tlieaotion thereof. A f

."8. In a railway switclnthe combination of a main rail, a branch rail leading tlierefrom, a verticallymovable switch tongue y adapted to control the passage. ofcar wheels relatively to 'to the main i'a'i'l and the' branch rail', 'a shaft, supporting means for the shaft, an armpr'ojeeting from the shaft -andhaying-aslottherein, and a pivoted arm having a pinprojecting into saiclslot and Opern@ tiveltoturn tlierst named erin anl said '79. In arailway switch, t-he combination of a main raiLn branch railleading ,tli'ere' H from, verticallymovable [switch `tc'ing'gue" adapted to control the passageof car wheels relatively vto tli'e-y main -rail and the branch rail, a shaft, an arm -projectinf` fronif the shaft anclhnviiiga slot'ltlierei'n", a pi'voted arm havin'of ay pin projecting into said slot and operative" to turn'the first named'aim and said shaft, and yielding means supportj ing said' she-ft and permitting it andthe'" switch 'tongue to' be'depressecl relatively-to the main and branch' rails "and the t'irstj named erin.` fr v ,l 10. In a railway switch, the combination of e frame, a yshaftv adapted-tube rocltedv r bai-cli:` vand forth, an operating arm for' said shaft adapted to move-'over the center of the shaft when it is rocked, a switch tongueuui-y erated bysaicl shaft,v and nepi-ing- :acting against, saidarin and preventing it ,from-'I' H l'eSilgfiL ddead center over 'said shaft.

Intestimony Wliereofl affix my lsignatm-. .j

hereto. 

